Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-07
MISSHApEN IDEAS,
BUILDERS SHOW A LEANING TOWARD
MEANINGLESS ORNAMENT.

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MEANINGLESS ORNAMENT.
An Architect Who Regrets the Increase
of Buildings of Grotesque Design-A
Few Words in Favor of Simple Clas-
siCal Forms:
ANY one of an observing mind may
have noticed the widely different styles of
architecture in the upper portions of the
city and in those localities down town
where old buildings have given place to
new Whether this diversity will eVentu-
ally beautify the city is question for
our architects to ponder. Mr.. Edward
II Kendall. the architect. has very clear
and sensible ideas upon this subject. To
n reporter Ee said:
THE recent enormous increase in the
building industry makes the considera-
tion of architectural forms an important
matter In New York we see at present
a wider divergence from old methods
than ever before in the history of the
city 1t seems as if our architects were
trying to outdo each other in the prOduc-
ton of grotesque ideas Upon the west
side this is especially noticeable. Here
we have IL jumbo of ornamentation, an
excess of strange forms which do not
consider in good taste.
Then You are not an admirer of the
new styles employed by our builders
I'm many instances consider them eX-
trGvagant and i'll suited to the purposes
for which they were designed ] think
New Workers are already sorry for hav-
ing gone TO such extremes. Purity of
taste, which is synonymous with sim
plicity of style, will always be the under
| lying permanent element in architecture
and we see even now many extremely
beautiful buildings in process of con
! struction."
What are the principles that govern
the changes of form which occur in archi-
| teCture}'
THE same law that governs all human
| institutions: the love of variety, the law
| of fashion. In New York We can dis
! tinctly trace several different building
| cpochs First the Dutch and colonial,
which is marked by its extreme simple
| ity. This is a reflection of the simple
| lives of the people. Then follows the
| brick and brown stone front epoch, and
lastly the diversity of styles which marks
| the present time.''
| SIMPLE, CLASSICAL FORMS.
What are the most prevalent forms
now in use:''
That would be difficult TO answer.
| Many buildings are constructed after
Moorish patterns; others are Italian,
| French, Gothic and Queen Anne designs:
| but for the most part a mixed style is in
| use which can hardly be classed in any
| category. am firm believer in simple,
classical forms adapted to the uses of the
| buildings to be constructed Thus |
| would not use the same oTnamentation in
| the building of church as in the con
struction of Il private dwelling or Office
| structure"
De You consider the blocks up town
more beautiful than the rows of monot-
onous brick and brown stone IN the cen
| tral portion of the citys9
| I'm one way, yes 1t is always pleas
ing when looking down street to see the
sky line broken, and in this respect our
| uptown blocks, with their variety of tur-
rets and peaked fronts have fine effect.
When spoke disparaginglyo Of them was
considering the houses individually not
| in masses. Another remarkably good
effect is produced by placing the creates,
ernamentation upon the corners of the
blocks For example, the building occu.
! pied bya silver manufacturing company on
| Broadway has been much admired for its
| turret, which you know rises from the side
| walk at the street corner At present we
have strong leaning toward meaningless
| crnamentstion, but the past has proved
| that there is always an undertone of good
taste which will eventually triumph
| Look at the grotesque forms prevailing
| in France under Louis XIV, and the still
| more fantastic designs of the times oi
Louis XIV and AVl, yet the good tastt
Of the people finally revolted agains
these ideas. 1t is the same with dress
Fashion is continually swerving away
from correct taste into peculiar notions
and as continually returning to tn,
straight line. OF course in architecture
the changes are not as rapid, for bricl
and stone are very different things from
silk and satin. We generally find that il
| times of affected and incorrect taste thi
architecture will be faulty
should not the architects be blamed
for thiss'
Not altogether. They are very mucl
trammeled by the ideas of their patrons
To be sure there are many who do no
understand the principles of their art, bu
] should lay the blame more to the pre-
vailing spirit of the times. Remembe
the architecture Of the Greeks an,
Romans How consistent it was witt
the simple and beautiful taste shown il
the life Of those peoples. New Yorl
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